Columbia Prof Calls for Deaths of American Troops...
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columbia prof calls for deaths of american troops
(fox news website)
friday, march 28, 2003
an academic furor was brewing friday over a columbia university professor who told thousands of... Read More

Mar 29, '03

That's funny Susy...I'm laughing my ASS off! I'm a freaking liberal democrat, for the most part, I voted for Gore and was quite irritated when things didn't go my way in the last election.

I don't like Bush (I'm sorry!)....but I do support this war.

I think a lot of demos are like me...thinking for themselves and not following what is quite expected of democrats. If anything we are thinking very clearly for ourselves and not following a herd mindlessly.

These professors are brainwashed I think.

Edited to include: I wanted to be against this war so badly my heart ached....I tried to be against it....but after reading and debating with my family, crying, reading opinions here at Allnurses, the facts fell on the side of war. It would've been a lot easier to go with my own natural grain and be anti war...then I truly would've been following the herd.

Last edit by Furball on Mar 30, '03

Mar 29, '03

I would like to see people who think we are so bad to get the heck out of MY country.......................go live somewhere else.......

renerian

Mar 29, '03

FYI from Newsday on line. This ******* has a warped idea of who is in the USArmy and why they joined.

Can you believe 3,00 people listened and some believed this shyte?

Funny thing--he's still an infidel according to the rules of jihad--he'll get the same treatment as you and I if the terrorist hit. Whose he gonna love then?

At an anti-war "teach-in" this week, a Columbia University professor called for the defeat of American forces in Iraq and said he would like to see "a million Mogadishus" - a reference to the Somali city where American soldiers were ambushed, with 18 killed, in 1993.

"The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military," Nicholas De Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology and Latino studies at Columbia University, told the audience at Low Library Wednesday night. "I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus."

De Genova was referring to the Mogadishu ambush and firefight, known for its graphic image of a slain American soldier being dragged through the streets. The battle was portrayed in the film "Black Hawk Down."

The crowd was largely silent at De Genova's remark. They loudly applauded him later when he said, "If we really [believe] that this war is criminal ... then we have to believe in the victory of the Iraqi people and the defeat of the U.S. war machine."

At least two of the speakers who followed De Genova distanced themselves from his comments. One of them was teach-in organizer Eric Foner, a history professor, who disagreed with De Genova's assertion that Americans who called themselves "patriots" also were white supremacists.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Foner went further in his criticism, calling De Genova's statements "idiotic."

"I thought that was completely uncalled for," Foner said. "We do not desire the deaths of American soldiers."

Foner said that because of the university's tradition of freedom of speech, it was unlikely De Genova would suffer professionally in any way because of what he said.

"A person's politics have no impact on their employment status here, whether they are promoted, whether they are fired or whether they get tenure," Foner said.

De Genova did not want to discuss yesterday whether he had tenure. Acknowledging his beliefs are more radical than those of many others at Wednesday's forum, he said his remarks reflect his concern for oppressed people. While he did not retract his statements, he said he hoped they do not lead to "death threats," like those he received after a controversial speech at a pro-Palestinian rally last spring.

Regarding Wednesday's reference to Mogadishu, the professor, who is 35 and from Chicago, said the U.S. Army is composed largely of men and women who have a "treacherous lack of prospects for a decent life," but even so, they "have a choice" in whether to oppress people like the Iraqis. He said the Iraqis must liberate themselves from domestic oppressors as well as from foreign invaders like the United States.

More than 3,000 students and faculty attended the Wednesday teach-in, which lasted from 6 p.m. until about midnight and featured more than two dozen professors and other scholars.

The applause at De Genova's call for the defeat of U.S.-led forces in Iraq reflected widespread frustration at the inability to reverse President George W. Bush's Middle East policies, Foner said.

"A kind of flamboyant statement like that will get an applause in the heat of the moment," the history professor said.

By turns, the speakers Wednesday night said the Bush administration's actions in Iraq were bullying, illegal, deceitful, corrupt and murderous. History professor Barbara J. Fields said like-minded Americans should vigorously oppose Bush. "The 'good Germans' of the Nazi era were the few who said, 'No,'" Fields declared.

Mar 29, '03

Originally posted by renerian I would like to see people who think we are so bad to get the heck out of MY country.......................go live somewhere else.......

renerian

ITA!!!
__________________________________________________ __

I'm all for free speech, but this A-hole went WAY over the line. Let him go to Iraq and express some anti-government free speech. I bet he wouldn't like the results.
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Again, ITA

Mar 29, '03

Originally posted by Hardknox FYI from Newsday on line. This ******* has a warped idea of who is in the USArmy and why they joined.

"U.S. Army is composed largely of men and women who have a "treacherous lack of prospects for a decent life,"

uh yah, his statement will not go over very well.. freedom of speech? Maybe someone will assist him to the border.

I can't imagine living in a country and wanting fellow americans "dead" while they are risking their lives for all. Our troops are defending this guys right to say he wants them dead. Does De Genova have some dysfunctional brain cells? It's mind boggling but I'm not wasting any more energy on this dude.

Mar 30, '03

I'd be happy to give him a FINE send-off to the 3rd world dictator-run country of his choice. This piece of cr@p has stretched "freedom of speech" in a way that is perverse.

Mar 30, '03

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes I'd be happy to give him a FINE send-off to the 3rd world dictator-run country of his choice. This piece of cr@p has stretched "freedom of speech" in a way that is perverse.

ITA!!!!!

Mar 30, '03

Originally posted by deespoohbear I don't want more deaths for either side of this war. Yes, I know Saddam has to be stopped or there will be more tragic deaths but to wish death upon our own American troops (and in my opinion our allies) is the sign of a cold hearted, evil spirited person. I agree with the poster who said he could pack his bags and go to Iraq if he doesn't like the climate over here in the states. I, for one would be happy to help him pack!!

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes I'd be happy to give him a FINE send-off to the 3rd world dictator-run country of his choice. This piece of cr@p has stretched "freedom of speech" in a way that is perverse.

I'll not only help him pack... I'll buy his airline ticket!!!!!

In college I learned that "Freedom of Speech" ceases to be a right when it crosses the line and "incites violence"... Sounds to me he's sitting on the fence and about to loose his balance... I should think a university professor, even an Assistant professor, would know better.

Mar 30, '03

Originally posted by Anaclaire
In college I learned that "Freedom of Speech" ceases to be a right when it crosses the line and "incites violence"... Sounds to me he's sitting on the fence and about to loose his balance... I should think a university professor, even an Assistant professor, would know better.

I would think a first grader would know better for crying out loud!!!

Apr 5, '03

US Representatives letter to Columbia:

Congressmen call for De Genova's job

Columbia undergraduate Matthew Continetti reports on NRO that the House of Representatives is circulating a letter to Columbia president Lee Bollinger demanding that Nicholas "Million Mogadishus" De Genova be fired. The letter is the brainchild of Arizona Republican representative J.D. Hayworth, who says Congressmen are "lining up" to sign it. The full text is as follows:

We are writing to urge you to fire assistant professor Nicholas DeGenova for remarks he recently made at a "teach-in" on the Columbia campus at which he called for the defeat of U.S. forces in Iraq.

According to Newsday, DeGenova told the anti-war gathering that he would like to see "a million Mogadishus," a chilling reference to the 1993 ambush in Somalia that killed 18 American servicemen. He added that, "The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military," and said those Americans who call themselves "patriots" are nothing but white supremacists.

As members of Congress who stand for election every two years, we are no strangers to the frank exchange of ideas and vigorous debate, and we have a deep appreciation for America's tradition of academic freedom. However, we also have an equally deep appreciation for the fact that our words have consequences.

Assistant professor DeGenova has brought shame on the great institution that is Columbia University. As an assistant professor, DeGenova has not yet earned the promise of lifelong academic employment - i.e. tenure. We hope that you will take steps immediately to ensure he never gets it.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

J.D. Hayworth
Member of Congress

Sixty-five representatives had put their names to the letter as of Tuesday afternoon; it will be delivered to Bollinger at the end of the working day on Friday.

Continetti also reports that videos of the Columbia teach-in were made, and were originally supposed to be made available through Columbia's web site. In the wake of the De Genova controversy, that has not been done, a decision that, Continetti notes, helps the hapless De Genova out considerably. Had video been available, the entire world would not only have been able to watch him make the comments that have been widely reported in the media, but would also have witnessed a portion of his talk that the media somehow neglected to take up: his praise of Asan Akbar, the army sergeant who rolled grenades into officers' tents two weeks ago in Kuwait.

Apr 5, '03

Excellent! Thanks for posting this!

Apr 5, '03

Originally posted by Hardknox his praise of Asan Akbar, the army sergeant who rolled grenades into officers' tents two weeks ago in Kuwait.

De Genova praised him. What a warped mind.

He's probably praising al-qaeda for 9/11 also.

Apr 5, '03

Originally posted by mkue De Genova praised him. What a warped mind.

He's probably praising al-qaeda for 9/11 also.

That man has to go!! Preferably to Iraq! Let him voice his Saddam loving voice over there!! Makes my blood boil!